Method of controlling a flow of air through a door

ABSTRACT

Hollow core door apparatus for preventing the build up of pressure in a room includes an inside door skin and an outside door skin, and the door skins include openings through which air flows. A center panel is disposed between and spaced apart from the skins. The center panel has an outer perimeter defined by notches through which air flows. Tabs between the notches are used to secure the center panel to the inside and outside door skins. Air flow from the room is through the opening in the inside skin, around the outer perimeter of the panel, and outwardly from the door and room through the outside skin in a non-linear manner. Air flow is controlled by a plurality of movable panels disposed adjacent to the outer perimeter of the center panel. Sensor elements for detecting aspects of the indoor environment and for providing output signals, including signals for actuating the movable panels, are included. A method of making the door follows the structural elements defined above.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 15/330,471, filed Sep. 24, 2016, which was a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 14/999,648, filed Apr. 1, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,493,980, dated Nov. 15, 2016, which was a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 14/756,033, filed Jul. 23, 2015, which was a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 14/756,017, filed Jul. 21, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,719,291, dated Aug. 1, 2017, which was a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 14/120,870, filed Jul. 7, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,109,389, dated Aug. 18, 2015, and which was a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 12/927,766, filed Nov. 23, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,085,933, dated Jul. 21, 2015.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to doors, and, more particularly, to hollow core doors having a center panel around which air flows outwardly through the door for preventing air pressure from building up in a closed room having a forced air system, and movable damper panels controlling the flow of air around the panel.

Description of the Prior Art

Hollow core doors have been made for many years for inside doors. The hollow core doors are less expensive than solid core doors, are easier to manufacture, and they are generally rigid and hence resist warping and twisting. Such hollow core doors make up the largest share of inside doors where strength and security are not required.

A hollow core door includes a conventional perimeter frame having a pair of vertically extending stiles and a pair of horizontally extending rails. The perimeter frame is covered typically with plywood or other appropriate panels or skins secured to the perimeter frame. There are generally also inside frame elements, typically wood strips extending horizontally between vertical frame members or in an “x” configuration within the perimeter frame for reinforcing the skins.

With the advent of cheaper materials, such as hardboard and medium density fiberboard (mdf) to replace the plywood, the construction of doors became less expensive using the cheaper materials than the manufacture of doors using the more expensive plywood panels or skins. However, the use of hardboard and mdf also requires a binder, and the most commonly used binder is a urea formaldehyde resin or compound. In other words, the substances out of which panels for hollow core doors are made inherently include, under contemporary manufacturing processes, at least a single noxious material.

The use of urea formaldehyde contributes to what is sometimes referred to as “Sick Building Syndrome.” This syndrome is caused by the gas emissions from the formaldehyde and from other chemicals used in the new door products and from other products in the home that also use formaldehyde resin or binder, such as furniture, kitchen cabinets, wood flooring, counter tops, wallpaper, carpet, and even paint.

There may also be other factors contributing to the Sick Building Syndrome, such as poor ventilation, combustion gases, fumes from attached garages, high auto traffic, tobacco smoke, and various volatile organic chemicals or VOCs. However, formaldehyde compounds or products probably contribute most to the Sick Building Syndrome and to the discomfort of people in the building or structure.

One solution, or partial solution, to the syndrome is to reduce the use of formaldehyde products. Another solution is to provide a product or products that absorbs and decomposes the formaldehyde gases and other noxious gases or products. The present invention includes absorbent material which absorbs and decomposes formaldehyde gases and other noxious materials and removes them from within the hollow core door and from air passing through the hollow core of a door to help clean the air within the room and building in which the door is located.

Moreover, the use of several doors in a house or building, such as one or more doors in each room, provides sufficient area on which is disposed the absorbent material for cleaning or scrubbing the air flowing through the doors. It is noted that typically each room in a house has at least one door, and rooms may have more than one door when closet doors, etc., are taken into consideration. The more doors in a home or building, the more efficient the scrubbing or cleaning process becomes.

It is also noted that in the case of new construction, doors are usually installed towards the end of the construction period, but prior to occupancy. It is important to clean the air of all the noxious material occasioned by the construction, such as paints, adhesives, smoking, new furniture, etc., prior to occupancy. The use of fans to change the air after construction and prior to occupancy may remove much of the noxious materials, but VOCs and adhesive gases may continue to outflow from their sources for a substantial period of time after construction and after occupancy. The present invention helps to remove those noxious materials from the air on a continuing, long term basis.

Hollow core doors also have an advantage in that the hollow core is ideal for including pressure equalization elements to prevent air pressure from building up within a closed room. Air pressure building up in a room interferes with the proper circulation of heated or cooled air in a forced air system.

Typically, there are no cost effective ways to prevent the increase in pressure in a closed room relative to a return air space. The return air space in a house is usually a hall which has a return air duct which conveys return air back to an air handler.

Several embodiments of hollow core doors of the present invention overcome the problem of preventing pressure build up in a room and at the same time provide substantial privacy relative to both light, sight, and sound. Moreover, the air scrubbing and pressure build up structures may be combined to provide a “smart door” that performs both a scrubbing function and a pressure build up prevention function.

Hollow core doors may also include a safety function when a pressure build up function is combined with a sensor to detect fire, smoke, carbon monoxide, etc., and then close off air flow through the door to provide a extra times for residents to evacuate the room, or to help isolate a sick or ill person from spreading contaminated air. A hollow core door with pressure build up prevention function may add a center fixed panel about which air flows from an opening in the inside skin and through an opening in the outside skin in order to prevent pressure build up in the room in which the door is installed.

Air flow through the door is controlled by movable panels secured to the center panel to prevent air flow in case of need. The door then is better at retarding fire and smoke than an ordinary or standard interior hollow core door and to provide a greater degree of privacy by controlling sight, sound, and light through the door. An actuator may move the movable panels in response to an appropriate signal from the sensor.

SUMMARY

The invention described and claimed herein comprises a hollow core door with stiles and rails defining a frame and a center panel secured to outer skins. The skins include outer rims extending continuously on the inside perimeter of the skins and a center panel is secured to the rims. The center panel is a double panel, or two half panels, with recesses defining a hollow interior in which is disposed movable damper elements or panels for controlling air flow about the center panel. The air flows about the center panel and outwardly through the door in a non-linear manner.

The center panel is appropriately secured to support elements on the rims of the skins. The center panel further includes tabs and notches between the tabs about the perimeter of the panel. The tabs secure the center panel to the skin perimeters. The tabs are disposed on support elements or bosses on the skin perimeters to secure the panel to the skins. Air flows about the panel through notches on the center panel at the outer perimeter and provide a non-linear flow of air through the door to prevent a build up of pressure in a room to which the door is secured. The area of the notches about the outer perimeter of the center panel is equal to or greater than the area of an air inflow vent so that there is no build up of pressure in the room. Movable damper panels are secured to the center panel and extend outwardly to control the flow of air through the notches of the center panel.

Among the objects of the present invention are the following:

To provide a new and useful method of making a hollow core door;

To provide a new and useful method of making a hollow core door having skins secured to a stile and rail frame;

To provide a new and useful hollow core door having center portion of the skins removed and a center panel is secured to the skins adjacent to the stile and rail frame of the door and a method of making such door;

To provide a new and useful hollow core door having notch passages through a center panel of the door through which air flows between the room in which the door is installed and a return air area and a method of making such door;

To provide a new and useful method of making a hollow core door having air flow through the door of a predetermined amount equal to or greater than the air flow into the room from an air supply register to prevent the build up of pressure within a closed room;

To provide a new and useful method of making a hollow core door having a center panel about disposed on a recess extending about the inner periphery of the skins and on which a center panel is disposed and about which air flows about the outer perimeter of the panel in a non-linear manner;

To provide a new and useful method of making a hollow core door having a fixed center panel secured to the skins and about which a flow of air moves through the door in a non-linear manner;

To provide a method of making a door frame comprising stiles and rails and skins secured to the stiles and rails and a center panel secured to the skins and air flows about the center panel and movable dampers are secured to the center panel to control the flow of air about the center panel;

To provide a new and useful method of controlling the flow of air through a hollow core door by providing movable damper panels secured to a center panel to control the flow of air around or about the center panel;

To provide a method of making a hollow core door having a hollow center panel secured to the skins with movable damper panels disposed within the hollow center panel and the movable damper panels control the air flow from a room and about the outer perimeter of the hollow center panel outwardly through the skins of the door in a non-linear manner;

To provide a hollow core door having a fixed center panel secured to inside and outside skins and air flows about the perimeter of the center panel and the flow of air is controlled by movable damper panels secured to the center panel at the outer perimeter of the center panel and a method of making such door;

To provide a fixed panel secured to skins of a hollow core door frame and the fixed panel includes movable dampers for controlling a flow of air about the center panel and to provide a method of making such apparatus;

To provide a new and useful hollow core door for preventing a build up of pressure in a room by air flowing non-linearly about a center panel through the door and to provide a method of making such door;

To provide a method of making a new and useful hollow core door having sensor elements for sensing desired information and for providing output signals in response to the sensed information preventing a build up of pressure in a room having a forced air system by controlling air flowing through a door to a return air space by moving damper elements secured to a center panel about which the air flows;

To provide a method of making a new and useful hollow core door having a center panel with an outer perimeter about which air flows and which panel is secured to the skins of the hollow core door;

To provide a new and useful hollow core door having a plurality of movable damper panels secured to a center panel for controlling air flow about the outer perimeter of the center panel and a method of making such door;

To provide a method of making a new and useful hollow core door having a continuous recess about the inner periphery of the stiles and rails and on which recess is secured a center panel about which air flows;

To provide a hollow core door having sensors for sensing desired information and for providing output signals in response to the sensed desired information and to provide a method of making such door;

To provide a new and useful door having at least a single actuator responsive to an output signal from a sensor for moving damper elements for controlling a flow of air through the door and to provide a method for making such door;

To provide a new and useful hollow core door through which air flows and having panels movable manually to control the flow of air through the door;

To provide a new and useful hollow core door through which air flows and having panels movable selectively by an actuator in response selectively to an output signal or manually to control the flow of air through the door and to provide a method for making such door;

To provide new and useful hollow core door combining an air flow through the door with elements for removing noxious materials from the air flow and for preventing a pressure build up in a room by flowing air generally non-linearly through the door to a return air space and to provide a method for making such door;

To provide new and useful apparatus for preventing a build up of pressure in a closed room having a forced air system and to provide a method of making such apparatus; and

To provide new and useful doors having sensors for sensing desired pressure information in rooms and for providing output signals in response to the sensed information to actuators in multiple doors for controlling the air flow through the multiple doors to prevent pressure build up in the rooms in which the doors are installed and to provide a method of making such doors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a door of the present invention in its use environment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the door of FIG. 1 partially broken away, taken generally from circle 2 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are perspective views sequentially illustrating the manufacture of a door of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an end view of a hollow core door of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation, including a view in partial section of an alternate embodiment of a portion of a door 410 of the present invention illustrating core elements, in the use environment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a portion of the door 410 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view, partially broken away, of a portion of an alternate embodiment door 620 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary edge view of a portion of the door 620 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view partially broken away schematically illustrating an alternate hollow core door embodiment 650 of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view in partial section taken generally along line 12/13-12/13 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view in partial section sequentially following FIG. 12 also taken generally along line 12/13-12/13 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a view of the door apparatus of FIG. 11 taken generally along line 14-14 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 11 taken generally along line 15-15 of FIG. 13

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the door 650 apparatus of FIG. 11.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary front view, partially broken away, of an alternate embodiment hollow core door 750 of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged schematic view in partial section taken generally along line 18-18 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a portion of a stile and rail door having a perimeter air flow.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are plan views of the upper portion and the lower portion, respectively, of a hollow core door of the present invention with movable damper panels for controlling air flow through the door.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view in partial section and partially broken away illustrating the structural elements and the movable damper panels of the present invention, taken generally along line 21-21 of FIG. 20A.

FIG. 22 is a schematic representation illustrating the movement of the movable damper panels of the present invention sequentially following FIG. 21 and is taken generally along line 22-22 of FIG. 20A.

FIG. 23 is a schematic representation of a portion of the present invention taken generally along line 23-23 of FIG. 20B, and

FIG. 24 is a schematic representation of a floor plan of a dwelling structure showing a plurality of doors usable with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Only the pertinent drawing figures of the parent applications of the present invention are included herein. Except for FIGS. 1-6, the figure numbers have been changed from the original applications, but the reference numerals for the original figures have been retained for convenience.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a view of a hollow core door 10 of the present invention disposed in a room 3. The room 3 is the use environment of the door 10. The door 10 includes a top panel or skin 12 (see FIG. 2) secured to a perimeter frame

Elements of the perimeter frame and portions of internal elements are shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 comprises a perspective view of a portion of the door 10 of FIG. 1, taken generally from circle 2 of FIG. 1. A portion of a side stile 12 is shown, along with a portion of a top rail 16, and a top panel or skin 40. The top rail 16 includes a plurality of openings or holes 18 through which air flows vertically within the door 10. Also shown in FIG. 2 is a portion of an upper internal brace element 24. The element 24 includes a plurality of spaced apart holes or openings 26 through which air may flow.

The door 10 and a method of making the door is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are consecutive or sequential perspective views illustrating the steps used to make the door 10. FIG. 5 also illustrates the internal bracing of the door 10. FIG. 6 is an end view of the completed door 10. For the following discussion, reference will be primarily directed to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6.

A central portion 52 of an outer door panel or skin 50 may be rough sanded by a belt sander 2 after parallel rabbets 54 and 56 are machined into the panel 50. Obviously, an automatic sanding machine, not shown, may be preferable to the hand operated belt sander 2 shown in FIG. 3 if such sanding is deemed desirable. The purpose of the sanding is to acquire better adhesion of absorbent material to the panels of the door. Other methods may also be used, such as paint or other adhesive.

The stiles 12 and 14 extend into the rabbets 54 and 56, as best shown in FIG. 6, when the outer panels are ready to be secured to the perimeter frame and to any internal frame elements.

After the rough sanding or sealing of the panel, an absorbent, such as diatomaceous earth, is applied to the rough sanded portion 52 of the panel 50. In FIG. 4, the absorbent material is schematically represented by reference numeral 60 being applied from a can or cup 4 or other desired element to form a layer on the sanded portion 52 of the panel 50.

It will also be noted that paper impregnated with an absorbent material 60 may also be adhesively secured to the panel portion 52. Paper strips are sometimes adhesively secured to the inside portions of the outer panels or skins to provide stiffness. The strips may be impregnated with an absorbent, as noted.

The layer 60 is a special absorbent material which also may include an appropriate binder to secure the adhesion of the absorbent material to the panel 50. A water based paint may be used if desired. A scraper or trowel 6 is shown in FIG. 4 as smoothing the layer of absorbent material 60 on the panel 50 to insure an even coating on the panel.

It will be noted that any appropriate method of applying the absorbent material may be used. For example, rollering, spraying, troweling, etc., may be desired under various circumstances, such as when automating the process, or when a particular type of absorbent material used, etc.

Absorbent materials, such as diatomaceous earth and other materials which may also contribute to the absorption and decomposition of formaldehyde and noxious material may be includes in the absorbent material layer 60. A benefit of using diatomaceous earth, in addition to its absorbent capability, is the destruction of noxious insects. It is well known that insects which eat diatomaceous earth die of dehydration. Thus, the absorbent material layer 60 provides a pest control service, in addition to the absorption and decomposition of formaldehyde gases and tobacco smoke ingredients, and other noxious gases.

Other materials such as gypsum, sodium sulfate, manganese dioxide, aluminum oxide, titanium dioxide, potassium permanganate, tourmaline, various types of carbon or charcoal, and other materials currently being used or being developed may also be included or used as or in the absorbent material layer 60.

Furthermore, the use of nano scale materials may also be used to scrub noxious materials, such as volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), from air. Nano scale materials, such as the tourmaline referred to in the preceding paragraph, are being developed for scrubbing noxious materials from air, but at the present time the use of such technology is in it infancy. In the future, such materials may be advantageous for use with the structure set forth herein.

The steps illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 are accomplished on the inner surfaces of both panels or skins 40 and 50. Sequentially, after both panels have received the absorbent or scrubber material, the panels are secured to the perimeter frame and to the internal bracing or core. For example, in FIG. 5 the bottom panel 50 is shown secured to the stiles 12 and 14 and to the rails 16 and 20. Both rails 16 and 20 include the holes or apertures 18 and 22, respectively. Internal horizontal bracing or core elements 24, 28, and 32 are secured to the panel 50 and to the stiles 12 and 14. The elements 24, 28, and 32 each have a plurality of holes or apertures 26, 30, and 34, respectively, to allow for the flow or air continuing through the core of the door 10.

FIG. 6, an end view of the door 10, shows the stiles 12 and 14 and the bottom rail 20 with is apertures 22, and the panels or skins 40 and 50. Note that the panels or skins 40 and 50 have been arbitrarily been designated “top” and “bottom” for convenience. The “top” panel 40 or skin is also designated as the “front” panel, above, and following the nomenclature of the parent applications except for the ultimate parent application, the '933 patent, comprises the inside skin.

Moreover, if absorbent and decomposing materials, such as diatomaceous earth and gypsum, etc., are incorporated into the construction of the mdf or similar material, then such materials need not be added to the inside of the panels themselves. Rather, the addition of the scrubbing materials to the mdf or similar material in the making of the panels simplifies the scrubbing situation.

However, the inclusion of the scrubbing materials into the panels may not be sufficient if the filtering or scrubbing of an air flow through a hollow core door is desired. In such case, the addition of scrubbing material or materials within the hollow core as described above is desirable.

While diatomaceous earth and other materials have been mentioned or discussed above as appropriate absorbent materials for formaldehyde and other noxious material in the gases in the air flowing through the hollow core of a door, there are other appropriate absorbent or decomposing materials, such as activated carbon or charcoal, with appropriate additives, and other materials which also may be used for absorbing and decomposing formaldehyde and other noxious gases in the air flowing through the internal core of the hollow doors discussed above. And in the future there will undoubtedly be other materials to perform the same basic scrubbing functions.

Moreover, one panel or skin, a top panel or skin for example, may use one type of absorbent or decomposing material, while the other panel or skin, a bottom panel or skin, may use another type of absorbent or decomposing material. Or several types of such materials may be used on each panel or skin. The use of a particular one or more materials may depend on the particular situations or locations for or at which the doors are made or are installed. The removal of noxious materials from air flowing through the hollow core of a door may include different types of absorbent or decomposing or other products. Noxious material may take the form of compounds, odors, moisture, etc., and combinations of such things.

The removal of such noxious material may require absorption, decomposition, or other technique—chemical, mechanical, etc. The flow of air in a structure and through the hollow core of a door carries the noxious material, and the removal of the noxious material may require a combination of products, techniques, etc.

Another technique may also be used to remove noxious materials, and that technique is to use a photocatalyst, such as titanium dioxide. A photocatalyst, such as titanium dioxide reacts to light, such as ultra violet light, and breaks down into hydroxyl radicals and super oxide anions. The products of the photocatalytic process oxidize noxious materials, such volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, and other materials as referred to above, etc.

Ambient light, direct sunlight, or an artificial light source, may be used to provide the necessary light to catalyze the photocatalytic material. The photocatalytic process will continue as long as there is light to cause the photocatalytic process to take place.

Accordingly, referring to FIG. 1, the exterior of the door, or the door facings, may be coated with titanium dioxide or other photocatalytic compound. In the presence of light, sunlight or ambient light, the photocatalytic process takes place, removing noxious products.

It will be noted that the term “gases” is to be broadly construed and includes water vapor or moisture in the air, as well as odoriferous gases, and other noxious materials or compounds in the air within a structure. The term “gases” is thus not limited to formaldehyde or similar gases.

It will also be noted that doors made out of mdf products have been discussed and illustrated because of the use of formaldehyde resin or binders commonly used in the manufacture of mdf products, and formaldehyde is probably the leading noxious material. However, a hollow core door made of steel, fiberglass, wood, or other products, may also be used with absorbent, decomposing, etc., material within the hollow core for removing or neutralizing noxious material or products or gases from air flowing through the hollow core. The scrubbing of noxious material from air flow accordingly may require a combination of materials secured within the hollow core of a door regardless of what the door is made of.

The terms “scrubber,” “scrubbers,” and “scrubbing,” all refer generically to the various kinds or types of material which may be used to remove noxious materials from the internal air flow within the hollow core of a door.

It will further be noted that as used herein, and in the following claims, the terms “material” and “materials” are virtually interchangeable, with “material” being considered both, or either, singular or plural.

The terms “absorb” and “absorbent,” etc., have been used herein regarding appropriate materials for carrying out the purposes of the present invention. It will be understood that “adsorb” and “adsorbent” materials may also be used to carry out the purposes of the present invention. Essentially, for purposes herein, the terms are interchangeable. Moreover, it will be understood that a combination of absorbent and adsorbent materials may be used if desired in the cleaning or filtering of the air flow through the hollow core doors of the present invention.

In addition to the removal of noxious material from an air flow through hollow core door, a hollow core door may be used to prevent the build up of air pressure in a closed room which has a forced air system. Embodiments of such hollow core door apparatus are illustrated in drawing FIGS. 7-18 are discussed below. An embodiment of a stile and rail door is illustrated in FIG. 19 and is also discussed below.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view in partial section of a portion of a door 410 illustrating the concept of the present invention in an embodiment for preventing the build up of air pressure from a flow of air 404 flowing from a register 402 in a closed room 404.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 14. For the following discussion, reference may be made to both FIGS. 7 and 8.

The register 402 provides a flow of air 404 into the closed room 400. The air flow into the room 400 is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). To prevent a build up of pressure in the room 400, the flow of air through the door 410 to a return air space 434 outside the room 400 should be proportional to the CFM flow of the inflow air 404. This will be discussed in more detail below on conjunction with the structure of the door 410.

It will be noted that in the following paragraphs the terms “inside” and “outside” refer to the room 400. The “inside” thus refers to the inside of the room 400 and the “outside” refers to the outside of the room, or to the side of the door 410 which faces outwardly of the room and is in contact with the return air space 434.

The door 410 includes an inside door panel or skin 412 comparable to the panel or skin 50 as may be best understood from FIGS. 3-6. The panel or skin 412 is appropriately secured to a top rail 411 and to a horizontal bracing element 413. The top rail 411 is comparable to the top rail 16 of FIG. 5, and the element 413 is broadly comparable to the bracing element 28 of FIG. 5. A single stile 415 is shown in FIG. 7. The construction of the door 410 is typical of hollow core doors other than the air flow refinements of the air flow elements. Extending through the inside door skin 412 is an opening 414. The opening 414 may be rectangular, or circular, etc. In the opening 414 is an inner panel 440. The configuration of the panel 440 is generally the same as that of the opening 414. The air flow 404 from the register 402 flows through the opening 414 and about the inner panel 440 and into an intake air space 416.

The door 410 also includes an outside door panel or skin 430, comparable to the panel 40, as may best be understood from FIGS. 2 and 6. The door panel or skin (generally “skin” or “skins” hereafter) 430 includes an opening 432 which is generally parallel to the opening 414 and is substantially the same size as the opening 414. Disposed in the opening 432 is an outer panel 450. The outer panel 450 is generally parallel to the inner panel 440 and is substantially the same size.

Between the door skins 412 and 430 is a center panel 420. The center panel 420 includes a plurality of openings 422. Adjacent to the openings 422 on the opposite side of the center panel 420 and between the center panel 420 and the outer panel 440 is an outflow space 424. The outflow space 424 is generally parallel to the intake space 416 and is substantially the same size.

The inner panel 440 includes an outer periphery or rim 442, and the outer panel 540 includes an outer periphery or rim 452. Between the panel 440 and the center panel 420 is a plurality of spacers 444. Between the outer panel 450 and the center panel 420 is a plurality of spacers 454. The spacers 444 and 454 secure the panels 440 and 450, respectively, to opposite sides of the center panel 420, and appropriately space the center panel 420 from the inner and outer panels to define the size of the intake space 416 and the size of the outflow space 424. The spaces 416 and 424 have the same area.

It will be noted that the spacers 444 and 454 are shown in FIG. 7 as being rectangular or circular in configuration, and in FIG. 8 as being truncated pyramidal in configuration. The configuration of the spacers is immaterial; they may be of any desired or convenient configuration.

It will be noted that there are two peripheral spaces shown in FIG. 7 There is a first or inside peripheral space between the opening 414 and the rim or outer periphery 442 of the inner panel 440, and through which the air flow 404 flows into the space 416. There is a second, or outer peripheral space between the opening 432 and the rim or outer periphery 452 of the outer panel 450 through which the air flow 406 flows or passes to the return air space 434.

There is a smooth flow of air 404 from the register 402 through the peripheral space about the rim 442 of the the inner panel 440 within the opening 414 into the intake space 416. The air then flows through the opening 422 in the center wall 420 to the outflow space 424 and outwardly through the peripheral space about the rim 452 of the inside panel 450 in the opening 452, and becomes an air outflow 406 to the return air space 434 outside the room 400, thus preventing the build up of air pressure in the room 400.

The peripheral spaces of the inside panel 440 and the outside panel 450 and the size or area of the openings 422 are appropriately dimensioned to provide at least the same or greater area than the peripheral spaces. The air flow 404 thus has no constraints to flowing non-linearly through the door 410 and outwardly from the room 400 into an air return space 434 outside the room 400.

Thus there is no build up of pressure within the room 400. That is, the air flow out of the room 400 through the door 410 is proportional to the CFM of the flow of air through the register 402 into the room 400. The door 410 thus prevents the build up of pressure in the room 400.

The areas through which the air flows must provide an area proportional to the CFM of the inflow of air through the register 402. There is a relationship between the CFM of the inflow 404 and the square inches of the areas through which the air flows. For example, for a 90 CFM inflow 404, there should be an area of about 90 square inches through which the air flows through the peripheral space between the opening 416 and the rim 442 into the space 416, and there should be aa least the same 90 square inches in the openings 422 for the flow of air from the space 416 into the space 424. There also should be the same 90 square inches for the air flow 406 through the peripheral space between the opening 432 and the rim 542.

The distances between the outer periphery or rim 442 and the opening 414, and between the outer periphery or rim 452 and the opening 432, are substantially the same. Those distances, and the length of the spacers 444 and 454, are dimensioned so as to provide the same CFM through the door 410 as the CFM through the register 402 of the air flow 404. That is, the spacing between the rim 452 and the opening 432 defines a peripheral space to provide the desired area for the desired air flow, and is thus equal to the peripheral space between the opening 414 and the rim 442 of the panel 440.

The square inches discussed above are the minimum areas for the CFM of the air flow through the register 402 into the room 400 and through the door 410 for the out flow 406 into the receiving space 434 to prevent any increase in the air pressure in the room 400. However, the square inches may be larger if the door permits. On the other hand, depending primarily on the thickness of the door, providing the necessary square inches for the air travel through the door may require additional elements, such as slanted panels into the air spaces 416 and 424. This will be discussed below.

In terms of pressure, professional standards, such as Energy Star Certified Homes, and the DOE's Zero Energy Ready Home Program, generally consider that the pressure in a closed room should be less than 3 pascals, or about 0.012 inches of a water column. For larger rooms, the pressure rises to equal to or less than 5 pascals. The present invention meets those criteria.

In FIG. 7, the panel 440 is shown disposed in the opening 414, and the panel 450 is shown disposed in the opening 432. However, it will be understood that the panels 440 and 450 will be spaced apart from their respective skins 412 and 430 in or adjacent to the openings 414 and 432, respectively, to provide the necessary peripheral spacing relative to the intake spaces 416 and 424, respectively, to provide the desired air flow.

For example, for a relatively strong air flow, in terms of CFM, and a relatively narrow door, the spacing of the panels may be outwardly from the door skins to provide the required peripheral spacing, or in a relatively weak air flow, and a relatively thick door, the panels may be disposed inwardly from the door skins. Thus, the term “adjacent” may be used to define the relationship between the door skins and their openings and the locations of the panels relative to the openings in the door skins. The term “adjacent” accordingly denotes the positioning of a panel relative to the openings in the skins in, inside, or outside, the openings.

In FIG. 8, a plurality of openings 414 are shown in the center panel 420. The total area of the openings 414 is equal to or greater than the area in square inches as discussed above.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view, partially broken away, of a door 620 which combines the air scrubbing capabilities of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 with the air pressure build up prevention by non-linear air flow capabilities of the door 410 of FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 10 is a fragmentary edge view in partial section of a portion of the door apparatus of FIG. 9.

The door 620 includes a stile 622 and a rail 626. The door 620 is shown with an outside skin 628. A portion of the outside skin 628 is broken away to show details of the stile 622.

The stile 622 is split to provide an air passage into the hollow core interior of the door 620. As may be understood best from FIG. 10, the stile 622 is split and the two portions are spaced apart by a plurality of dowels 632 and includes a passageway 624 vertically through the stile. A passageway 624 between the two portions of the stile allows air to flow laterally through the stile into the hollow core portions of the door. Scrubbing elements for removing noxious material, as discussed above for the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6, may remove the noxious material from the air flow.

Similarly, the rail 626 may also be split split as shown in FIG. 10 by substituting the reference numeral 626 for the reference numeral 622 in FIG. 10. The rail 626 uses dowels 632 to space apart the two portions of the rail. With split stiles and rails about the perimeter of the door, including reinforcing rails between the top and bottom rails, and holes through the bottom rail, as shown and discussed above in conjunction with the embodiments of FIGS. 1-8, and with the scrubbing material also discussed therewith, air flow through the door 620 performs air scrubbing functions, as well as preventing the build up of air pressure in a closed room when appropriate elements, such as the apparatus 410, are installed in the door.

The pressure of the flow of air into a room, such as the flow 404 of the room 400 of FIG. 7, will provide an air flow through the door 620 to a return air space and also through the stiles and rails for a scrubbing action. Air will thus flow through the door to prevent the build up of pressure and through the stiles and rails to the interior hollow core for the air flow to be scrubbed of noxious materials.

The doors 410 and 620 comprise first generation hollow core doors for preventing pressure buildup in a room, a hollow core door 650 comprises a second generation door, and a first generation “smart door.” The door 650 includes privacy provisions and the ability to control the flow of air through the door incrementally from full flow to non-flow, along with the ability to control various programmable electronic devices in a room or structure. Moreover, the door 650 provides a degree of fire retardant capability that provides time for room or house evacuation not provided by standard or contemporary interior hollow core doors, as will be explained below.

FIG. 11 comprises a schematic fragmentary perspective view, partially broken away, of the hollow core door 650. The hollow core door 650 includes a top rail 652 secured to a stile 654. The top rail 652 and a bottom rail, not shown, the stile 654, and another stile, also not shown, comprise a conventional frame for the hollow core door 650.

The door 650 includes an inside skin 660 and an outside skin 720, both of which are shown secured to the top rail 652 and to the stile 654. The outside skin 720 includes an opening 712. The opening 712 includes an inner periphery 714. An outside panel or privacy panel 720 is disposed in the opening 712. The panel 720 includes an outer periphery 722 which is disposed in the opening 712. A peripheral space 718 is defined between the outer periphery of the panel 720 and the inner periphery 714 of the opening 712.

Within the hollow core door 650 is a pair of fixed panels 680 and 700, both of which are secured to the stile 654. A sliding panel 690 is disposed and movable between the fixed panels 680 and 700.

An actuator 730 is appropriately secured to the slidable panel 690. The actuator 730 is shown disposed within the stile 654. A sensor 740 is also disposed within the stile 654. The sensor 740 senses predetermined or desired information from the air adjacent to the door 650. Such information may include temperature, pressure, smoke particles indicative of a fire, carbon monoxide, relative humidity, or other desiderata. The sensor may provide and transmit signals in response to the desired sensed information. Signal outputs from the sensor may be sensed by the actuator 730 and by other electronic elements in the room or structure in which the door 650 is installed.

An output signal from the sensor 740 may result in the actuator 730 moving the slidable panel 690. Such movement may be sequential and incremental or full, as described below. Other signals may turn on or off lights, adjust blinds, etc., such as are now provided by smart phones and other electronic devices. Essentially the door 650, with the sensor 740, becomes an intelligence center for the room or structure in which the door is installed, with the ability to provide desired output signals to a wide variety of programmable electronic devices.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are schematic views in partial section taken generally along lines 12/13-12/13 of FIG. 11 through the door 650. FIG. 13 follows sequentially after FIG. 12. FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the movement of the sliding panel 690 relative to the fixed panels 680 and 700.

For the following discussion, reference may be made particularly to FIGS. 12 and 13, but also to FIG. 11. Note that movement of the sliding panel 690 is into and out of the pages for the FIGS. 12 and 13.

Spacer blocks 656 and 716 separate the skins 660 and 710 from the fixed panels 680 and 700, respectively.

The inside skin 660 includes an opening 662, and the opening 662 has an inner periphery 664. Within the opening 662 is an inside panel or privacy panel 670. The panel 670 has an outer periphery 672. A peripheral space 666 is formed between the inner periphery 664 of the skin 660 and the outer periphery 672 of the privacy panel 670.

The panel 670 is spaced apart from the fixed panel 680 by a plurality of spacers 674. An interior space 686 is defined between the fixed panel 680 and the skin 660 and its privacy panel 670. Air flows into the space 686 through the peripheral space 666. Note that the thickness of the spacer block 656 is the same as the length of the spacers 674.

The fixed panel 680 includes a plurality of openings. Air flow from the space 686 is through the openings 682.

The movable or slidable panel 690 is disposed between the fixed panels 680 and 700. The panel 690 includes a plurality of spaced apart openings 692. The openings 692 are shown aligned with the openings 682 of the fixed panel 680 in FIG. 14.

The fixed panel 700 includes a plurality of spaced apart openings 702. The openings 702 are shown aligned with the openings 682 of the fixed panel 680.

As stated above, the outside skin 710 includes an opening 712, and the opening 712 includes an inner periphery 714. The privacy or outside panel 720 is disposed in the opening 712, and has an outer periphery 722. A peripheral space 718 is defined between the inner periphery 714 of the outside skin 710 and the outer periphery 722 of the privacy panel 720. The panel 720 includes a plurality of spacers 724 to space apart the panel 720 from the fixed panel 700.

The outside or privacy panel 710 is spaced apart from the fixed panel 700 by a spacer block 716. The spacer block 716 has the same thickness as the spacers 724 of the panel 720. The spacer blocks 656 and 716 have the same thickness, and the spacers 674 and 724 also have the same thickness or length.

A chamber 706 is defined by the fixed panel 700 and the skin 710 and its privacy panel 720. Air flows from the chamber 706 outwardly through the peripheral space 718. When the openings 682, 692, and 702 are aligned, as shown in FIG. 24, air flows from the chamber 686 into the chamber 706.

The combined areas of the openings 682, the combined areas of the openings 692, and the combined areas of the openings 702 are equal to each other.

The openings 662 and 712 (see FIGS. 11 and 12) are the same size. The size or area of the panels 670 and 720 are also the equal to each other, and accordingly the peripheral spaces 666 and 718 have the same areas. Therefore, the same amount of air will flow into the chamber 686 as may flow through the aligned openings in the fixed and sliding panels and out of the chamber 706. As with the doors of FIGS. 7-10, the respective areas provide proportional areas for the airflow through a register into a room and out of the room through the door 650 to prevent the build up of pressure of the room.

When the openings 682 and 702 are blocked by movement of the sliding panel 690, as shown in FIG. 15, there is no flow of air between the chambers 686 and 702. The panel 690 is moved by the actuator 730, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are schematic views in partial section taken respectively along lines 14-14 and 15-15 of FIGS. 12 and 13. FIGS. 14 and 15 show sequentially the movement of the sliding panel 698 from aligning the openings 682, 692, and 702 to allow for the flow of air through the fixed and slidable panels between the chambers 686 and 706 and to the complete blocking of the air flow by a complete misalignment of the openings 682 and 712 in the fixed panels 680 and 700, respectively, by movement of the sliding panel 690, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 15.

There is airflow shown in FIG. 14, and there is no airflow shown in FIG. 15. Airflow is allowed by the alignment of the openings 682, 692, and 702 shown in FIG. 14, and airflow is blocked by moving the panel 690 so that the opening 692 is out of alignment with the openings 682 and 702 in FIG. 15. Note that airflow in and through the door 650 is non-linear, just as with the doors 410 and 620, discussed above.

The actuator 730 moves the slidable panel in response to a signal from the sensor 740 or from manual signal from a user or occupant of the room in which the door 650 is installed. There is no significant flow of air through the door 650 when the openings 692 are out of alignment with the openings 682 and 702. With a programmable sensor 740, the movement of the panel 690 may be set to incrementally move the panel 690 in response to a temperature change, or other criteria, to a full closing or misalignment of the openings as shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, as desired, or to a full opening by a full alignment of the openings as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14.

A full closure or non-movement of air through the door 650 by complete non-alignment or blockage of alignment of the openings in the fixed and movable panels as shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, may also be obtained by the sensing of a fire by the sensor 740. Such full closure or blockage provides three panels on the interior of the hollow core door 650. The additional fire resistance may provide additional time for occupants to evacuate the structure in which the door/doors is/are installed. The full non-alignment of the openings in the panels 680, 690, and 700 may also restrict the availability of air or oxygen to a fire in the room.

As stated above, the programmable functions available in contemporary electronics make the door 650 a “smart door” with many capabilities. The location of the sensor 740 in a stile at an appropriate height allows the sensing of information whether the door 750 is open or closed, or anywhere in between, and the sensing is to a more accurate degree than that of a fixed sensor on a wall or on a ceiling. Thus, a plurality of “smart doors” in a structure provides more accurate and more complete information relative to individual rooms and halls than contemporary fixed wall or ceiling sensors may provide. However, it will be noted that a sensor need not be installed as shown. If desired, a sensor may be installed in any desired of appropriate location in a room, such as wall mounted sensor/transmitter 403 shown in FIG. 7. Nevertheless, the advantages of the sensor installed in the door appear to be preferable to a wall or ceiling installation.

Another advantage or benefit of being able to prevent air flow through a door is when there is a need to limit contact with an individual with a medical problem transmissible by close contact through air flow, such as colds, flu, etc. The person with such medical problem may be isolated in a limited manner by preventing air flowing from the room as provided above. Opening a window in the room may provide sufficient fresh air, and an open window may help evacuate contaminated air from the room.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view in partial section of a portion of the door 650 illustrating the support for the sliding panel 690 on the fixed panel 680. The fixed panel 680 includes a plurality of spaced apart guide blocks 684. The slidable panel 690 includes a plurality of slots 694 which receive the guide blocks 684. The sliding or movable panel 690 is thus supported by and is movable on the guide blocks 684 of the fixed panel 680.

The full pressure build up prevention capabilities of the embodiments of FIGS. 7-16, and the scavenging or scrubbing properties of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6, may be included in the embodiment of the “smart door” of FIGS. 11-16, thus providing multiple capabilities and benefits.

The non-linear flow of air may be provided in another embodiment, a third generation hollow core door 750, illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18. There is less privacy with the door 750, but there may be greater air flow through the door 750.

FIG. 17 is a partial front or plan view of a portion of the hollow core door 750 having a non-linear flow of air through the door. Portions of the door 750 are broken away to shown structural and other features of the door. FIG. 18 is a view in partial section of a portion of the door 750 taken generally along line 18-18 of FIG. 17. The door 750 includes a fixed center panel disposed between the inside and outside skins. For the following discussion of the door 750, reference may be made to both FIGS. 17 and 18.

It will be noted that the terms “inside” and “outside” are used with respect to the door 750 as set forth above with respect to the doors 410, 620, and 650.

The door 750 includes a conventional hollow core door perimeter frame 752, including a pair of stiles 754 and 758 and a pair of rails 760 and 762 appropriately secured together. The stile 754 has an end face 756, shown in FIG. 18.

An inside skin 770 is secured to the frame 752. The inside skin 770 includes a rabbet 772 and a shoulder 774 at the end of the rabbet 772. A mating shoulder of the stile 754 is disposed against the shoulder 774. The inside skin 770 also includes a recess or bore 776, and an opening 778. The opening 778 frames a fixed center panel 790. The opening 778 is shown as rectangular in FIG. 17, but may be any desired configuration to conform to a panel which is generally centered or framed by the opening 778. The opening 778, as best may be understood from FIG. 17, defines an inner periphery for framing the panel 790.

The panel 790 is illustrated as being generally rectangular as indicated by the solid and dotted line in FIG. 17. The panel 790 includes an outer periphery 792. The opening 778, or its inner periphery, is smaller than the outer periphery 792 of the panel 790. The area between the inner periphery of the opening 778, and of a like opening 788 in an outside skin 780, and the outer periphery 792 of the panel 790, defines a perimeter portion of the door 750 where the panel is secured to the inside and outside skins, as discussed below and as shown in FIG. 18.

The outside skin 780 includes a rabbet 782 with a shoulder 784 against which a mating shoulder of the stile 754 is disposed. The outside skin 780 also includes a recess or bore 786 aligned with the bore 766 of the inside skin 770. The opening 788 is aligned with the opening 778 of the inside skin 770. The recesses or bores 776 and 786 are also aligned with each other.

The inside skin 770 and the outside skin 780 are mirror images of each other, and they frame the panel 790. The panel 790 is disposed between and spaced apart from the two skins.

The center panel 790 is secured to the inside and outside skins 770 and 780, respectively, by spaced apart support blocks 800. In FIG. 17, the support blocks 800 are shown in dotted line spaced apart for supporting the panel 790. The recesses 766 and 786 in the skins 760 and 780 receive the support blocks 800. As may be understood from FIG. 17, there are a plurality of spaced apart and aligned recesses or bores 776, 786 for receiving a plurality of support blocks 800.

The support blocks 800 include recesses or slots 802. The recesses or slots 802 extend inwardly from the support blocks 800 and receive the outer periphery 792 of the panel 790 to secure the panel between the inside and outside skins. The recesses 802 of the support blocks 800 secure the panel 790 to the support blocks 800, and the support blocks 800 hold the panel 790 a predetermined distance or spacing from the skins 770 and 780.

The support blocks 800 extend outwardly from their recesses in the skins to as to provide a space for air flow between the panel 790 and the adjacent skins. This is clearly shown in FIG. 18. The support blocks 800 include ends 804 and 806 which extend into the recesses or bores 776 and 786 of the inside and outside skins 770 and 780, respectively.

With the panel 790 secured to and disposed between the skins 760 and 780 by the support blocks 800 and their recesses 802, respectively, and with and the skins 760 and 780 secured to the frame 752, the door 750 is complete.

A chamber 820 is defined between the skins 760 and 780 and the end 756 of the stile 754 and above the bottom rail 762, as shown in FIG. 18. The chamber 820 extends about the outer periphery 792 of the panel 790 and within both stiles and both rails, as may be understood from FIG. 17.

The airflow around the panel 790 is illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 18 into and out of the chamber 820, and thus through the door 750 from a room to the outside of the room, as discussed above for the previous embodiments of the pressure build up prevention doors. The airflow is non-linear, as with the previous embodiments to prevent pressure build up in a room.

With the relatively large peripheral length around the entire perimeter or outer periphery of the center panel 792 for the chamber 820, there is more than adequate area for air flow through the door 750 to prevent pressure build up in a room in which the door 750 is located.

It will be noted, as best understood from FIG. 18, that the thickness of the panel 790 generally controls the air flow into and out of the chamber 820. The thickness of the panel, preferably centered between the inside and outside skins, determines the spacing between the panel and the adjacent interior walls of the respective skins. As indicated, the panel 790 is hatched for glass, and thus is shown as a fixed width. If the panel 790 were to be wood, mdf, etc., it could be tapered in the area of the openings 778 and 788 of the skins, and thus vary the flow of air into and out of the chamber 820 from a predetermined amount based solely on the fixed thickness of the panel.

While the center panel 790 is hatched for transparent material in FIG. 18, it will be understood that any type of material may be used for the panel. The center panel may also have a different configuration than shown, and may be of any appropriate size. Moreover, there may be other ways to secure the center panel to the skins than that shown in FIG. 18.

For construction, an inside skin 770 is first prepared and an outer door frame 752 is placed on the skin. The plurality of support blocks 800 is secured to the center panel 790, and the center panel is then placed on the inside skin with the ends 804 of the support blocks 800 disposed in the recesses 776. The outside skin 780 is then placed on the door frame 752, with the recess or bores 786 of the outside skin receiving the ends 806 of the support blocks to complete the fabrication of the door 750. The several elements are, of course, appropriately secured together during the fabricating or assembly process.

For convenience, and to follow the elements shown in FIG. 18, the terms “inside” and “outside” have been used herein to differentiate the two different sets of support blocks. Actual fabrication, of course, may be as desired with respect to “inside” and “outside,” or even a different manufacturing procedure may be used. Moreover, a door may use more than a single panel. For example, a top panel and a bottom panel may be used for esthetic purposes.

As with the other pressure build up prevention doors discussed above, scrubbing elements or materials may be added to the door 750 for the removal of noxious material from the air flow through the door.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a portion of a stile and rail door 830 having hollow core stiles and rails for providing perimeter air flow through the door. The door 830 also includes sensor elements for sensing predetermined information from the air flow through the door.

The door 830 includes a panel 870 which includes an inside face 872 and an outside face 874. A tongue or flange 876 extends about the outer perimeter of the panel 870, and extends into support elements 890. The tongue or flange 876 has a reduced thickness relative to the thickness of the panel 870 for matingly engaging the support elements 890, and for providing a relatively smooth air flow about the panel 870.

Disposed within the hollow cores of the stiles and rails are the support elements 890. The support elements 890 are spaced apart about the outer perimeter of the panel 870 for providing appropriate support for the panel 870 within the chambers defined by the hollow cores of the stiles and rails of the door 830.

The support element 890 includes a pair of oppositely inwardly extending inside and outside tapers 892 and 894, respectively. The tapers 892 and 894 extend to a recess 896. The recess 896 terminates in a flat end. The flange 876 of the panel 870 extends into the recess 896, with an end 882 of the tongue or flange 876 disposed against the end of the recess 896. The support elements 890 are appropriately secured within the hollow cores.

The panel 870 includes an inside face 872 and an outside face 874. The panel 870 also includes the tongue or flange 876 extending about the panel 870. The flange 876 includes tapering portions 878 and 880 extending from the faces 872 and 874, respectfully. The tapers 878 and 880 reduce the thickness of the flange 876 relative to the thickness of the panel 870. The flange 876 terminates in the outer end 882 at the outer perimeter of the panel 870.

The flange 876 is disposed within the recesses 896 of the support elements 890, with the end 882 of the panel 870 disposed at the inner ends of the slots 896 of the elements 890. Thus, the spaced apart support elements 890 secure the flange 876 of the panel 870 within the hollow cores of the stiles 832, 840 and rails 850 and 860.

A chamber 900 is defined within the aligned slots or hollow cores of the stiles and rails and about the flange 876. As shown in FIG. 19 by the double lined arrows about the flange 876, air flows along or about the inside face 872 of the panel 870 and into the chamber 900, around the end 882 of the tongue or flange 876, out of the chamber 900, and along or about the outside face 874 of the panel 970 and out of the room in which the door 830 is secured.

The chamber 900, defined by the hollow cores of the stiles and rails into which the air flows through the door 830, to provide the same pressure build up prevention as the air flows through the hollow core door 750, shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, discussed above. The structure is different, but the same function is provided. The air flows from the room, as from the room 400 of FIG. 7, around the outer periphery 876 of the panel 870, into the chamber 900, and from the chamber 900 outwardly from the room as shown by the double arrows.

The room air thus flows through the stile and rail door 830 outwardly from the room to prevent the build up of pressure in the room. The flow of air through the door is non-linear to provide a degree of privacy with respect to both light, sight, and sound. The non-linearity is illustrated by the at least five changes of direction in the flow of air through the door 830, as with the other doors discussed above.

A sensor/transmitter 1000 is shown in the stile 832. The sensor/transmitter 1000 includes a probe 1002 extending into the chamber 900. The sensor may be configured to sense any desirable information, such as temperature, humidity, occupancy, VOCs, smoke particulates, carbon monoxide, radon, etc. The information sensed may be transmitted to appropriate receivers, servos, etc. (not shown). The door 830 thus may also be considered a smart door, such as the door 650.

With sensors in every room, such as a static or fixed sensor/transmitter 403 (see FIG. 7) in one part of a room and another sensor 1002 in a door, and every room in a home thus equipped, and with the sensed information transmitted to a computer, the cloud, or to a smart phone, the status of the air in each room then notes any anomaly. The anomaly is noted and then appropriate action may be taken.

The sensed information pinpoints not only the potential problem, but provides the specific location of the potential problem. For example, sensors showing higher than normal humidity in a bathroom may indicate a problem. The specific bathroom is noted. A high radon reading in one part of a house may indicate a radon leak, and the location of the leak or source is noted. The same situation may occur with VOCs noted in a specific room. These are just a few examples of the possibilities of the apparatus of the door 830 combined with static sensors in a room.

The door 650 may be considered the first generation “smart door,” and the door 830 the second generation “smart door,” and a door 1010 may be considered the third generation “smart door.” The door 1010 is a hollow core door with movable dampers for controlling air flow through the door.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are plan views of the hollow core door 1010 with movable damper panels secured to a center panel between inside and outside skins, with FIG. 20A comprising the top or upper half of the door 1010 and FIG. 20B comprising the lower or bottom half of the door. The door 1010 has been broken into the two halves for clarity. FIG. 21 is a view in partial section and partially broken away illustrating the center panel secured to the inside and outside skins and the movable damper panels secured to the center panel. FIG. 21 is taken generally along line 21-21 of FIG. 20A. FIG. 22 is a view similar to and sequentially following FIG. 21. Hatching is shown in FIG. 21, but for clarity, hatching has been omitted in FIG. 22. Moreover, the structural support elements shown and discussed in reference to FIG. 21 have been omitted in FIG. 22. FIG. 22 is taken from a different location than that of FIG. 21, namely along line 22-22 of FIG. 20A. For the following discussion, reference may be made to FIGS. 20A, 20B, 21, and 22.

The hollow core door 1010 comprises a frame including a stile 1012, a stile 1014, a top rail 1016, and a bottom rail 1018. An outside skin 1020 is secured to the stiles and rails of the conventional or standard hollow core door frame. An inside skin 1030 is also secured to the stile and rail frame.

The outside skin 1020 includes an opening 1022. The opening 1022 includes a peripheral recess 1024. Spaced apart on the peripheral recess 1024 are bosses 1026.

The inside skin 1030 includes an opening 1032 and the opening 1032 includes a peripheral recess 1034. Spaced apart on the recess 1034 are support elements or bosses 1036. As may be understood from FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, the inside and outside skins 1030 and 1020, respectively, are disposed against each other at the inside of the recesses, the inside of the recesses defining inwardly extending rims for the skins, and the bosses extend inwardly towards a center panel 1040 of the door 1010. The recesses 1024 and 1034 extend about the inner peripheries of the respective skins. The skins 1020 and 1030 are mirror images of each other.

At the juncture line of the interior periphery of the skins, as best shown in FIG. 22, is a damper groove 1038 which receives the movable damper panels. The damper groove 1038 extends about the inner periphery at the juncture of the skins. This will be discussed below.

A center panel 1040 is disposed between the skins 1020 and 1030 in the hollow core of the door 1010. The center panel 1040 is comprised of two half panels 1042 and 1052. The half panel 1042 is an outside center panel, and the half panel 1052 is an inside center panel. Facing each other is a recess 1046 and a recess 1056 in the outside center panel 1042 and the inside center panel 1052, respectively. The recesses 1046 and 1056 define a hollow interior of the center panel 1040.

The outside center panel 1042 includes a tapered outer perimeter 1044. The tapered outer perimeter 1044 includes a plurality of spaced apart tabs 1048. The tabs 1048 are disposed on the bosses 1026 of the outside skin 1020 and are appropriately secured thereto. Between the tabs 1048 are notches 1050. Air flows through the notches 1050 as will be discussed below.

The inside center panel 1052 includes a tapered outer perimeter 1054, and there are a plurality of spaced apart tabs 1058 on the outer perimeter 1054. The tabs 1058 are disposed on the bosses 1036 and are appropriately secured thereto. Notches 1060 are spaced apart between the tabs 1058. Air flows through the aligned notches 1050 and 1060 as will be discussed below. The outer perimeter of the panel halves, and thus of the panel 1040, is greater in length than length of the inner peripheries of the openings in the skins, resulting in a non-linear air flow through the door 1010. Again, there are at least five changes in the direction of the air flow through the door 1010 as with the other doors discussed above.

Within the recesses 1046 and 1056 is a damper panel assembly 1070. The damper panel 1070 is appropriately secured to the outside center panel 1042. The damper assembly 1070 includes a side damper panel 1072, a side damper panel 1074, a top damper panel 1076, and a bottom damper panel 1078. The damper panels 1072, 1074, 1076, and 1078 are shown in their closed position in FIGS. 20A, 20B, and 21, blocking the flow of air through the aligned notches 1050 and 1060.

The alignment of the notches 1050 and 1060, and of the bosses 1026 and 1036 is best shown in FIG. 23. FIG. 23 is a schematic viewing in partial section taken generally along line 23-23 of FIG. 20B. For the following discussion reference will primarily be made to FIG. 23, but reference may also be made to FIG. 21.

The skins 1020 and 1030 are shown aligned with the bosses 1026 and 1036 contacting the tabs 1048 and 1058, respectively, between them. The notches 1050 and 1060 are also aligned. Air flow through the aligned notches is blocked by the damper panel 1072. This showing corresponds to the damper panel situation as illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B.

Returning to FIGS. 20A and 20B, an actuator bar 1080 is secured to a pair of bars 1082 and 1084. A pair of blocks 1140 and 1144 is secured to the outside center panel 1042. A pair of tension springs 1142 and 1146 is appropriately secured to the bars 1082 and 1084, and to the blocks 1130 and 1144, respectively. The tension springs bias the actuator bar 1080 upwardly to keep the damper panels in their closed position as shown in FIGS. 20A, 20B, and 21. Downward movement of the actuator bar 1080 moves the damper panels to their open position, as shown in FIG. 22. The damper panels are connected to the bar 1080 through actuator plates or bell cranks and rods.

An upper actuator plate or bell crank 1086 and a lower actuator plate or bell crank 1088 are secured to the bar 1080 for pivoting movement. The bell cranks 1086 and 1088 are T-shaped bell cranks which pivot on the bar 1080 in response to vertical movement of the bar 1080. In turn, the bell cranks 1086 and 1088 are pivotly secured to the outside center panel 1042. The bottom of the tee is secured to the bar 1080, while the center of the arms is pivotly secured to the center panel 1040. The arms of the bell cranks 1086 and 1088 are pivotly secured to the damper panels 1072 and 1074, respectively.

Rods 1088 and 1090 are pivotly secured to the arms of the bell crank 1086. Rods 1094 and 1096 are pivotly secured to the arms of the bell crank 1092. As the bar 1080 moves downwardly, the bell cranks 1086 and 1092 pivot counterclockwise and draw their respective rods inwardly, thus moving the side plates 1072 and 1074 inwardly to uncover the notches 1050 and 1060 to allow air flow through them, as shown in FIG. 22.

Thus vertical movement of the bar 1080 results in the joint inwardly and outwardly movement of the damper panels to control air flow through the notches 1050 and 1060 of the two halves 1042 and 1052 of the center panel 1040, respectively.

The top and bottom damper panels 1076 and 1078, respectively, move jointly with the side damper panels by means of angle arms secured to the side panels and to the outside center panel 1040.

The top damper panel 1076 moves by an angle plate 1100 and an angle plate 1110, both of which are secured for pivoting on the outside center panel 1042 at the juncture of the angle arms. The plate 1100 is pivotly secured to the side damper plate 1072 by a rod 1102 and to the top damper plate by a rod 1104. The rods 1102 and 1104 are secured to the plate 1100 at the outer ends, respectively, of the bottom and top of the arms of the angle plate 1100.

The angle plate 1110 is pivotly secured to the outside center panel 1042 at the juncture of its arms, and to the top damper plate 1076 by a rod 1110 and to the side damper plate 1020 by a rod 1112. The rods 1110 and 1112 are secured to the arms of the plate 1110 at the outer ends of the top and bottom arms, respectively.

The bottom damper plate 1078 is pivotly secured to the outside center panel 1042 by a pair of angle plates 1120 and 1130 at the juncture of the arms of the angle plates. The angle plate 1120 is pivotly secured to the side damper arm 1072 by a rod 1122 and to the bottom damper plate by a rod 1124.

The angle plate 1130 is pivotly secured to the outside center panel 1042 at the juncture of its arms. The angle plate 1130 is pivotly secured to the side damper panel 1074 by a rod 1132 and to the bottom damper panel 1078 by a rod 1134.

As the side damper panels 1072 and 1074 move inwardly by the upward movement of the bar 1080, the respective angle plates pivot to move the top and bottom damper plates outwardly to block air flow through the aligned notches 1050 and 1060. As the bar 1080 moves downwardly to move the side damper panels inwardly, the angle plates pivot to move the top and bottom plates to move inwardly to allow air movement through the notches 1050. The movement of the damper plates is jointly or simultaneously to control the flow of air through the notches 1050 and 1060.

Movement of the bar 1080 is controlled by an actuator 1152. The actuator 1152 is disposed in a removable housing or tray 1150 located in the top rail 1016. Also disposed in the housing 1150 is a sensor package 1154, with a plurality of sensors and transmitters and a microprocessor computer, and a battery pack 1156 for providing power for the actuator 1152 and the sensor package 1154.

Under microprocessor computer control, the bar 1080 may be moved incrementally to control the flow of air through the door 1010. With a number of such doors in a dwelling, the air flow through the doors may be closely matched to the requirements for the precise balancing of air flow throughout a dwelling for maximum efficiency of a forced air system regardless of temperature, wind, or other factors. Sensors for sensing air flow, temperature, humidity, smoke or other particulates, or any other desired elements or quantities, as discussed previously may be considered when programming microprocessors for the control of air through a pluralities of doors in a dwelling by adjusting the movable damper panels as discussed above, including as discussed above for the doors 650 and 830.

A microprocessor computer may correlate the sensed information transmitted by a plurality of sensors in the plurality of doors and transmit signals to control the flow of air through a plurality of doors to prevent the pressure build up in the rooms in which the doors are installed, and thus maintain the desired pressure in each room at or below the recommended three pascals, as set forth above.

Moreover, with the technology of smart phones and appropriate apps, the information as to pressure or any other desired data may be transmitted and signals may be transmitted for remotely controlling air flow. The incremental adjustment of the damper panels allows precise control of air flow through a plurality of doors in a dwelling or other structure according to predetermined parameters or by selective remote control through smart phone technology.

A manual actuator 1148 is connected to the bar 1080 and appropriately extends through the center panel 1040, preferably through the inside center panel 1052 (not shown). Manual actuation of a particular door for privacy, illness, or other reasons, may be easily accomplished by the actuator 1148. A plurality of detents on the inside center panel 1042 may provide selective adjustments of the damper panels for controlling the air flow through the door 1010 by the actuator 1148.

As best shown in FIG. 22, a chamber 1066 is defined within the peripheral recesses 1024 and 1034 of the outside and inside skins, respectively, into and out of which chamber the air flows. The chamber 1066 extends fully about the center panel 1040. The outer portion of the panel 1072 extends into the chamber 1066. The damper panels, such as the panel 1072, control the flow of air around or about the perimeter of the panel 1072 and thus through the door 1010 in a non-linear manner of a least five changes of direction.

The size and number of the notches may be varied to provide the necessary air flow. It is the air flow that is important, not the number of notches. Moreover, while the above discussion refers to structures with a forced air system, such as shown in FIG. 7 the present invention applies to the prevention of pressure buildup regardless of the source of airflow into a room, such as an open window.

As with the other doors discussed herein, appropriate material may be added to the inside of the door 1010 for removing noxious material from the air flow through the door.

FIG. 24 is a schematic representation of a floor plan of a dwelling structure 1200 The dwelling structure 1200 has a plurality of doors with appropriate sensors and actuators as discussed above. The dwelling structure 1200 includes a garage 1202 with a solid core door 1204 opening into the main part of the dwelling. From the garage 1202 the door 1204 provides access to a great room 1206 and to a kitchen area 1208. A hall 1209 extends to a bathroom 1210 and to a bedroom area. A door 1212 provides access to the bathroom 1210 and to a bedroom 1214. A door 1218 provides access between the bedroom 1214 and the bathroom 1210. The hall 1209 also provides access to two additional bedrooms 1220 and 1224 by means of doors 1222 and 1224, respectfully. A front door 1230 opens into the main part of the dwelling 1200, and a side entry or “back” door 1232 provides access through the garage 1202. It will be noted that the doors 1204, 1230, and 1232 are solid core doors as required by building codes. The doors 1212, 1216, 1218, 1222, and 1226 are hollow core doors of the present invention, as discussed above.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements, without departing from those principles. For example, using a rack and pinion gearing system instead of the bell cranks discussed above for moving the damper panels is a simple structural modification, and certainly comes within the spirit of the invention, as does the number of damper panels used. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

What I claim is:
 1. A method of controlling air flow through a door comprising the steps of: providing a frame for a hollow core door; providing an inside skin and an outside skin for the hollow core door; providing openings in the inside and outside skins, which openings have inner peripheries of a first length; securing the inside skin and the outside skin to the frame; providing a center panel having an inside side and an outside side and an outer periphery, which outer periphery has a length greater than the first length of the inner peripheries of the openings in the inside and outside skins; providing notches in the outer periphery of the center panel; securing the center panel to the frame, whereby the air flow through the door flows through the opening in the inside skin, along the inside of the center panel, through the notches in the center panel, along outside of the center panel, and outwardly through the opening in the outside skin in an non-linear manner; providing means for sensing information through the air flow through the door; and providing means for controlling the air flow through the notches in the center panel in response to the sensed information to prevent the build up of pressure in a room in which the door is installed.
 2. The method of claim 1 in which the means for controlling the air flow through the door includes movable damper panels disposed adjacent to the notches and movable in response to the sensed information.
 3. The method of claim 2 which includes the step of providing a computer for receiving the sensed information and for providing an output signal for moving the movable damper panels.
 4. The method of claim 2 in which the center panel is hollow and the movable damper panels are disposed in the hollow center panel.
 5. The method of claim 1 in which the center panel is secured to the frame by being secured to the inside and outside skins.
 6. The method of claim 1 in which the frame includes a pair of side stiles and a top rail and a bottom rail, and the means for sensing information is disposed in the top rail.
 7. A method of controlling the air flow through a plurality of doors in a structure to prevent the build up of pressure in rooms in which the doors of the plurality of doors are installed comprising the steps of: providing means for controlling the air flow through the plurality of doors; providing sensors for sensing the air pressure information in rooms in which the plurality of doors are installed and for transmitting the sensed air pressure information; providing receivers in the plurality of doors for receiving the sensed air pressure information; providing at least a single computer for receiving and correlating the sensed air pressure information and for providing output signals to each door of the plurality of doors; and providing actuators in each door of the plurality of doors for controlling the means for controlling the flow of air through each door of the plurality of doors in response to the output signals from the computer for preventing the build up of pressure in the rooms in which the plurality of doors are installed.
 8. The method of claim 7 in which the doors of the plurality of doors are hollow core doors.
 9. The method of claim 8 which includes the step of providing a center panel in each door of the plurality of hollow core doors.
 10. The method of claim 9 which includes the step of providing notches in the center panels through which air flows through the doors.
 11. The method of claim 10 in which the means for controlling the air flow through the doors includes damper panels disposed adjacent to the notches in the center panels and the movement of the damper panels controls the air flow through the notches.
 12. The method of claim 9 in which the center panels are hollow and the means for controlling the air flow are disposed in the hollow center panels.
 13. The method of claim 7 which further includes the step of providing means for removing noxious material from the flow of air through the doors of the plurality of doors.
 14. The method of claim 12 which includes the steps of providing tabs at the outer perimeter of the center panel for securing the center panel to the inside and outside skins, and providing notches between the tabs, and the air flows through the notches, and the air flow is controlled in response to movement of the movable panels at the notches.
 15. A method of controlling a flow of air through a door comprising in combination the steps of: providing a pair of stiles and a pair of rails; assembling the pairs of stiles and rails into a frame; providing an inside skin and an outside skin; providing openings in the inside and outside skins having inner peripheries of first lengths; providing a center panel having an outer perimeter having a length which is greater than the first lengths; disposing the center panel between the inside and outside skins within the frame; securing the inside skin and the outside skin to the stile and rail frame; providing a flow of air through the opening in the inside skin, about the outer perimeter of the center panel, and outwardly through the door through the opening in the outside skin; and controlling the flow of air about the outer perimeter of the center panel.
 16. The method of claim 15 in which the step of controlling the flow of air about the outer perimeter of the center panel includes the step of providing movable panels, the movement of which controls the flow of air.
 17. The method of claim 16 includes the step of providing sensor means for sensing information regarding the air flow and providing output signals in response to the sensed information.
 18. The method of claim 17 which includes the step of providing an actuator for moving the movable panels in response to the output signals of the sensed information.
 19. The method of claim 18, which includes the step of providing a computer to monitor the sensed information and provide output to the actuator for moving the movable panels.
 20. The method of claim 19 in which the center panel is hollow and the movable panels are disposed in the hollow center panel.
 21. The method of claim 20 includes the step of securing the inside and outside skins to the frame includes the step of securing the center panel to the inside and outside skins. 